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Bauhinia × blakeana Dunn

Family Name:	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Synonyms:	Bauhinia ''Blakeana''
Common Name:	Blake's Bauhinia, Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Bauhinia, Butterfly Tree, 红花羊碲甲, 洋艳紫荆

Bauhinia × blakeana, also known as Blake's Bauhinia, is a hybrid of Bauhinia purpurea and Bauhinia variegata. The flower is an official flora emblem of Hong Kong and is featured on the state flag as well as on the back of Hong Kong's coins.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Drought Tolerant

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular, Open
Maximum Height	6 m to 10 m

Biogeography

Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal
Local Conservation Status	Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only)

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a semi-deciduous tree, about 6 - 10 m tall.
Crown	The crown is open and irregular with sparse branching. It may look untidy when it is shedding leaves.
Foliage	Leaves are light green and bi-lobed which resembles butterfly wings.

Flowers	Flowers are large (15cm across), showy, and fragrant. It has deep pink petals and 5-6 stamens. The number of stamens is a key feature to distinguish Bauhinia × blakeana from the similar-looking Bauhinia purpurea, which has 3-4 stamens.
Fruit	Fruits are not observed as flowers are sterile.
Others - Plant Morphology	It is a hybrid between Bauhinia purpurea (female parent) and Bauhinia variegata. It can only be perpetuated by horticultural practices (eg. grafting), hence validated as horticultural cultivar.
Cultivation	It prefers well-drained and acidic fertile soils. Alkaline soils may cause interveinal chlorosis in its leaves. Once established, the tree is highly drought-tolerant and can be grown in small gardens, open spaces and parks for attractive leaves and flowers. it is observed to have intense flowering season observed in sub-tropical regions, but it is not apparent in Singapore due to lack of seasonality. It is believed that all trees cultivated worldwide today originate from a single tree grown in the Hong Kong Botanic Gardens.
Etymology	The genus Bauhinia is named after 16th century Swiss botanists and brothers, Jean (Johann) Bauhin and Gaspard (Caspar) Bauhin, where the two lobes of leaves are said to represent the two brothers. The specific epithet honors Sir Henry Blake who was the Governor of Hong Kong from 1898 - 1903.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Others: The blooms can be used as cut flowers in flower arrangements. The flower is an official flora emblem of Hong Kong and is featured on the state flag as well as on the back of Hong Kong's coins.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers) (Time Independent, Day), Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	General, Suitable for Roadsides
Thematic Landscaping	Naturalistic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Easy to Grow, Drought Tolerant, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Pruning	Prune for good form and remove crossing branches.
Diseases	Leaves may from interveinal chlorosis if plant is grown in alkaline soils.
Propagation Method	Grafting
Propagation Method Remarks	The plant is sterile and does not produce seedpods, so it can only be propagated by grafting.

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Drought / Semi-Deciduous
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Dichotomous
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Emarginate
Foliar Base	Cordate
Typical Foliar Area	Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Yellowish-grey
Mature Bark Texture	Scaly, Smooth

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink
Flower Symmetry	Bilateral

Flower Size - Remarks	Large, showy, 15cm across.
Flowering Opening Time	Time-Independent
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1455
Species ID	2748
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.